Trips To Australia
2006 - The Possums
Singapore
On arrival we frog marched the Possums and the Dingo’s down to the river. After forcing them to have a group photo (yeah right you posers!) there was free time. The people in Singapore had obviously heard the Famous Possums were coming as while Laura, Leah, Shelley and Lucy posed for a photo some strange Chinese people jumped in it too. We heard that some of the group (okay, quite a lot) visited a Christian Refuge Centre, also known as ‘Hooters’; we believe this was truly a spiritual and educational experience for all involved – apparently the view wasn’t bad as well!
The next morning after we finally managed to get Justin out of bed, the possums trundled down to the river, blurry eyed from their flight so far. Off we went on a rickety boat with a man that spoke little English but seemed to be thrilled with his British passengers. After a short sightseeing tour there was a little time to ‘window shop’ and then it was back to the hotel for our onward journey.
Melbourne
We were lucky enough to be greeted in Melbourne by Sarah…or at least we thought we were until the next day when she unexpectedly went flying across the road lunging onto a tram with 21 faithful followers. After a lovely tram journey, the people being very friendly and enjoying their chats with the Possums (honestly) we made our way to the tower. After charming the man on the door and getting a ‘special’ discount it was time for the ear-popping journey up the tower. The view was spectacular and very romantic, prompting Justin to declare his undying love to Sarah.
Then it was into the town centre, after a short microphone break for Anita boosting the local bookshop sales…or was that scaring customers away! While we (Sarah, Chris and Anita) sat in a very lovely river front restaurant the rest of the Possums enjoyed their free time.
Unfortunately Sarah had to leave us that evening to check if the Dingo’s team leaders were quite as insane as the ones she has lumbered the poor Possums with. During that evening we had a group bonding meal at an all you can eat Pizza and Pasta restaurant (where no body found a hair in their food).
The next day, it was time for the ‘Neighbours, everybody needs good Neighbours’ tour. Driving through the street of Melbourne on a Neighbours bus (many strange looks) we had a sing song to the hits of the cast…’what…Kylie was in Neighbours?’… Some of the group proved themselves to be avid Neighbours fans, especially Kayleigh who got 100% on her final test. After a brief visit to Ramsay St, where there were many attempts to steal the sign (yes Rhyddian we saw you!) it was off to Erinsborough High School. On the bus home Anita demanded to watch Scott and Charlene’s wedding; unfortunately most of the Possums didn’t remember it as they hadn’t been born yet; making Anita and Chris feel very old. Then there was just time to watch Madge die…how depressing…who chose that? Then it was back to the youth hostel.
Under orders from the group a trip to Warribee Safari park was magically organised. Boarding the Jurassic Park style bus we nervously began to wonder what kind of animals they actually had at this place. It all became clear after witnessing a Hippo marking its territory.
There was time in the evening for a trip down to the shopping centre/ casino for a meal. A supposed sophisticated evening soon turned into a shambles as soon as the group saw the water jets. Justin, Rhyddian, Sian and Rhiannon tried to prove they were faster than the speed of light by out running the water jets. Needless to say they weren’t and we ended up with some very soggy but happy Possums and many amused observers. Rachel R picked up a very strange dance partner (Anita) in the hotel lobby and enjoyed a good waltz with random couples joining in.
As it was our last night in Melbourne a farewell drink was had by some. While some made ‘friends’ with the locals others found true love with the laundry basket.
The Grampians
The next morning, we met the CVA staff and were taken to the Grampians. The Possums were split into 2 buses the ‘Sunshine’ bus and the ‘Dogs Behind’. The entire trip up was filled with anticipation of seeing their first Kangaroo. One was finally spotted…unfortunately it was ‘sleeping’ by the side of the road.
Luckily, we stopped at the native wildlife park where we met (and stroked) kangaroo’s, koala’s, wallaby’s, wombats, deer, dingo’s and emus. We managed to be stalked round the park by a deer and Leah just couldn’t understand why she couldn’t buy a Koala, or where all the Elephants were.
The next 5 days were spent doing conservation work with Uncle Graham and Kade. The group was split into 2 and the sunshine bus went to plant trees, while the Dogs Behind went to work on land that needed tidying up/weeds removing.
There were many laughs during the conservation work. Snuggling up to each other (thanks Elisabeth and Leah) in Grahams truck was a good way to warm up on a cold morning, whilst using the ‘toilet’ in the fields was truly an experience. Poor ‘Matty’ got lumbered with the all female group and was even beginning to become female himself by the end of the few days. Whilst the enthusiasm of Katie was enough to keep the group going on a muggy day, until eventually the sun came out.
We really enjoyed our time with the amazing Adam who we spent many evenings raving (or is that ranting) about to the other group (poor Alison and Chloe). Apparently, while one group was slaving away planting trees under the promise of a BBQ; which never materialised, the other group were roasting marshmallows having a sing-song around the fire. Oh the cheek of it!
We survived a week of potential food poisoning by the Possums and were educated in the ways of the ‘teaspoon’ and ‘sniff food’ diet which is the latest trend in LA. A wonderful time was had by all.
Sydney
In Sydney, the first night we took the group into the town to ride the monorail so they could get a view of the city and we could point out places they may be interested in visiting – the shopping centre / aquarium / darling harbour / opera house and harbour bridge / china town / cinema / food court. Some took an avid interest in finding out where the nearest ‘Roxy’ shops were and became very well dressed indeed. What a trendy group we had; shame about the leaders!
Later on that evening, we showed them where scu bar was and a lot spent some time in there…
The next day we strolled through the busy streets of Sydney making our way to Darling harbour. We caught a seemingly innocent water taxi round to the Opera house with what was later described as a kamikaze driver; the words extremely bumpy would not do it justice! Although I have to say the view was amazing; well worth it.
On the Sunday, we all walked down to the Jewish Museum to take part in the Butterflies of hope memorial service to remember the children who died in the holocaust and children who are victims of war. After a very emotional service with some fabulous reading some written by youngsters involved with the Joshua Foundation we headed off to Bondi beach.
Getting to Bondi was an experience, in the end the police helped us onto the buses (hmm, makes a change to be helped ON a bus) and we were finally on our way. The Possums had already been given orders that their feet were to go in the sea at the least; most obliged. Some, yes Alison, Justin and Rhyddian decided to strip off (any excuse) and off they headed for a swim way out in the ocean while others posed (again) for photos. Rachel B showed her true comical side about some crying girls. Then there was just time for the Possums to be filmed by a group making a fashion film for their school (told you they were well dressed) before we headed back to the hostel.
That evening, we had booked the possums in the revolving restaurant in the AMP tower for all you can eat. Many new tastes were tried, possibly even the Kangaroo was had seen ‘sleeping’ by the side of the road in the Grampians.
The next day was free time (what more shopping)! More photos were taken at the Opera House with us looking like even bigger fools than normal in silly hats. Then in the evening, we took most of the possums down to China town to the food court for a ‘slow’ food experience.
The following day was the harbour bridge climb, the guy who had the Sunshine bus group really enjoyed his time with us; we know he was only joking about wanting to throw himself off at the top. The time up and down passed quickly, helped by numerous singsongs and the view from the top was amazing.
Then it was time to do the jet boat in the harbour. The waves were crashing, and so were we every time we rode a wave. Thankfully no one had eaten before it, although some did shed a tear or two (Laura) due to the speed.
That evening the entire group went to the Hard Rock café for our final night meal. We were stunned when the Possum’s all gathered round us and presented us with gifts as a thank you for helping to make their trip so enjoyable. We were made to model the t-shirts they had written messages on for us and walk home in them. We felt like film stars having our picture taken by 19 people (and were blind by the end of it)
Wednesday morning, the Possums leaders headed off to the Prince of Wales children’s hospital to drop off the presents for the children in the cancer ward as the Possums had been unable to visit. We met an 18 month old girl who greatly appreciated the Welsh dragon she had been given from the group.
Later that morning we walked to the Jewish museum for our tour. We were spoken to by an amazing German man named Oscar, who had survived the Holocaust. He told us stories of his experience of war and how he had escaped concentration camps. His fascinating real life stories brought the later tour round the museum to life.
Then it was time to say a tearful farewell to Sydney before leaving for the airport for our journey home.
As team leaders we were initially worried about spending 3 weeks with 19 young adults so far away from home. We soon realised after meeting them that there was nothing to be worried about. The groups bonded well and there were many laughs, many of them in delirium around the fire in the Grampians. Thank you to all the Possums for making the time so enjoyable and being so easy to work with. We hope to see you all soon.